EP3953254B1 - System and method for recovering an aircraft - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for recovering an aircraft with at least one recovery vehicle, which has a transport surface for receiving a landing gear of the aircraft.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for recovering an aircraft.

Every time an aircraft lands in air traffic, there is a risk that one or more of the aircraft's landing gears will be damaged. If a tire of one of the landing gears is hit during landing, for example by objects on the runway, or if the maximum load on the tire is exceeded due to the aircraft touching down on the runway too abruptly, this usually leads to the tire bursting. As a result, the plane runs on the rim of the damaged tire, which also damages it to a greater or lesser extent. In the case of emergency landings on unpaved ground, there is also a high risk that one or more tires on one or more landing gears of the aircraft will not withstand the loads that occur and will fail. As a result, the aircraft involved in the accident remains at the scene of the accident and can no longer be towed as usual due to the damaged landing gear. This means that air traffic is impaired, since at least that runway on which, or in the vicinity of which, the damaged aircraft has come to a standstill can no longer be used until it is transported away.

Various devices are known in the prior art for transporting away aircraft that have been involved in an accident (see, for example, document GB2175550 ). As a rule, aircraft with damaged landing gear are transported away with so-called recovery vehicles, which take over the function of the damaged landing gear. For this it is necessary to position the damaged undercarriage on the recovery vehicle. The recovery vehicles have a ramp over which the undercarriage with the damaged wheels must be pulled or pushed. As a result of the damage to the chassis, the rolling function of the wheels is usually no longer available or only available to a limited extent, which means that this positioning is a complex process and involves a great deal of mechanical effort. In addition, landing gears with burst tires or with damaged or blocked wheels cannot be pulled onto the recovery vehicle and must first be raised with a jack for aircraft landing gear. If the tires on an undercarriage fail, this means that jacks known in the prior art for aircraft undercarriages cannot be used, since the minimum distance between a lifting point provided on the undercarriage and the ground under the undercarriage is not reached.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to form a system and a method for recovering an aircraft which avoid the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention, the present object is achieved in that the system comprises at least one axle lifting device, at least one displacement plate and at least one carriage, the axle lifting device having at least one bearing element that can be raised and lowered for the height-adjustable accommodation of at least one axle of the running gear, and the displacement plate has a Essentially in one plane with the displacement surface arranged next to the transport surface of the recovery vehicle, the carriage being designed to accommodate at least one wheel arranged on the axle accommodated by the bearing element of the axle lifting device, and being displaceable from the displacement surface of the displacement plate onto the transport surface of the recovery vehicle .

The system according to the invention for recovering an aircraft comprises at least one recovery vehicle with a transport surface for receiving a landing gear of the aircraft. The system also includes an axle lifting device, at least one displacement plate and at least one carriage. The axle lifting device has at least one bearing element that can be raised and lowered for receiving at least one axle of the chassis in a height-adjustable manner. The displacement plate comprises a displacement surface which, in the operating position, is arranged essentially in one plane with and adjacent to the transport surface of the recovery vehicle. The carriage is designed to accommodate at least one wheel arranged on the axle accommodated by the bearing element of the axle lifting device, and can be displaced from the displacement surface of the displacement plate onto the transport surface.

The system according to the invention offers the advantage that the use of the axle lifting device with the bearing element, which acts on the axle of the running gear, provides a simple and safe way of raising the damaged wheel or wheels of the running gear from the ground. This creates the possibility of positioning the displacement plate under the damaged tire or tires and of arranging the carriage on the displacement surface of the displacement plate. The inventive design of the system with the shifting plate and the carriage also reduces the height by which the damaged chassis has to be raised by the axle lifting device in comparison to the use of jacks in the prior art. The skid face of the skid plate provides a smooth surface that reduces friction with the carriage positioned thereon. After the wheel has been placed on the carriage by the axle lifting device, the force required to move the carriage with the wheel of the chassis accommodated by it is thereby removed of the displacement area on the transport area of the recovery vehicle is necessary, reduced. The inventive design of the system also has the advantage that the necessary mechanical forces and the necessary extent of displacements on the landing gear, which are necessary to prepare the damaged aircraft for transport, are significantly reduced compared to the prior art. This reduces the risk of injury for the rescue personnel and ensures that the damaged aircraft is transported away more quickly. This leads to cost savings for the airport, since a runway occupied by the damaged aircraft is available again more quickly. In addition, the fuel consumption of air traffic is reduced by reducing waiting times when approaching airports.

The system according to the invention preferably comprises at least one jack stand for receiving the axle of the chassis. This achieves the advantage that the axle raised by the axle lifting device can be temporarily stored on the jack stand, and the axle lifting device is available for lifting another axle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system comprises a locking device for locking the displacement plate on the recovery vehicle in the operating position. This achieves the advantage that loads occurring when the carriage is moved from the displacement surface of the displacement plate onto the transport surface of the recovery vehicle do not lead to the displacement plate and the recovery vehicle drifting apart.

According to the preferred embodiment, the locking device comprises at least one cable pull connected to the displacement plate and the recovery vehicle. This achieves the advantage that the force of the connection between the displacement plate and the recovery vehicle can be regulated.

The system preferably comprises a displacement device connected to the carriage, the displacement device being designed to displace the carriage from the displacement surface to the transport surface. This achieves the advantage that controlled displacement of the carriage is made possible. The shifting device preferably comprises a cable connected to the carriage. In a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the shifting device comprises a cable pull connected to the carriage.

According to an advantageous embodiment variant, the carriage is designed to slide from the displacement surface onto the transport surface. This is a particularly simple and cost-effective method of relocating the undercarriage onto the recovery vehicle. According to an alternative embodiment, the carriage has rollers for moving the carriage from the displacement surface to the transport surface.

The system according to the invention preferably comprises two axle lifting devices. This provides the advantage that if the wheels on two axles of a chassis are damaged, the axles can be raised independently of one another, as a result of which the chassis can be moved to the recovery vehicle more quickly.

According to the preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system comprises at least one holding device, which can be fastened to the carriage, for fixing the wheel on the carriage. This achieves the advantage that the wheel cannot roll off the carriage when the carriage is displaced. The holding device preferably comprises at least one wheel chock.

According to the preferred embodiment of the system, the bearing element comprises two support chains.

The axle lifting device preferably comprises at least one actuator which is connected to the bearing element and is designed to raise and lower the bearing element. This achieves the advantage that the bearing element can be raised and lowered in an automated manner. The actuator is preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

According to the preferred embodiment variant, the system comprises two displacement plates and two carriages, the displacement plates being arranged at a distance from one another. This achieves the advantage that aircraft with two damaged wheels arranged opposite one another on an axis can also be salvaged.

In an advantageous embodiment variant, the recovery vehicle includes a leveling device, which is connected to the transport surface, for raising and lowering the transport surface. This achieves the advantage that the level of the transport surface can be adjusted to the level of the displacement surface.

1. a) Anheben zumindest einer Achse eines Fahrwerks eines Flugzeugs mit der Achsanhebevorrichtung;
2. b) Positionieren der Verschubplatte unter zumindest einem, an der zumindest einen angehobenen Achse, angeordnetem Rad;
3. c) Positionieren des Schlittens auf der Verschubfläche der Verschubplatte;
4. d) Absenken der angehobenen Achse des Fahrwerks und Ablegen des zumindest einen Rads auf den Schlitten mit der Achsanhebevorrichtung; und
5. e) Verschieben des Schlittens von der Verschubfläche auf die Transportfläche des Bergewagens gelöst.

The present object of the invention is further achieved by a method for recovering an aircraft, comprising the steps

1. a) raising at least one axle of a landing gear of an aircraft with the axle lifting device;
2. b) positioning the displacement plate under at least one wheel arranged on the at least one raised axle;
3. c) positioning the carriage on the displacement surface of the displacement plate;
4. d) lowering the raised axle of the chassis and depositing the at least one wheel on the carriage with the axle lifting device; and
5. e) Displacement of the carriage from the displacement area to the transport area of the recovery vehicle.

The method according to the invention offers the advantage that the necessary working time, which is necessary for the recovery of an aircraft with a damaged landing gear, is significantly reduced compared to the prior art. Furthermore, the safety of the rescue personnel is improved.

• f) Nach Schritt a) und vor Schritt b):
  • Ablegen der angehobenen Achse des Fahrwerks auf den Unterstellbock, und
  • Anheben einer weiteren Achse des Fahrwerks des Flugzeugs mit der
  • Achsanhebevorrichtung; und
• g) Nach Schritt c) und vor Schritt d)
  • Absenken der weiteren Achse und Ablegen zumindest eines an der weiteren Achse angeordneten Rads auf den Schlitten, und
  • Anheben der auf dem Unterstellbock abgelegten Achse mit der Achsanhebevorrichtung.

According to the preferred embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the steps

• f) After step a) and before step b):
  • Place the raised axle of the chassis on the jack stand, and
  • Raising another axis of the landing gear of the aircraft with the
  • axle lift device; and
• g) After step c) and before step d)
  • Lowering the additional axle and depositing at least one wheel arranged on the additional axle onto the carriage, and
  • Raise the axle placed on the jack stand with the axle lifting device.

This achieves the advantage that an aircraft with damaged wheels on different axles can be recovered using the method according to the invention with only one axle lifting device.

• Figur 1 zeigt ein Fahrwerk eines Flugzeugs, wobei eine Achse des Fahrwerks mit einer Achsanhebevorrichtung eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems angehoben ist.
• Figur 2 zeigt das Fahrwerk aus Figur 1, mit der Achsanhebevorrichtung, zwei Schlitten und zwei Verschubplatten des erfindungsgemäßen Systems.
• Figur 3 zeigt das Fahrwerk aufgenommen auf den zwei auf jeweils einer Verschubplatte gelagerten Schlitten mit einem Bergewagen des erfindungsgemäßen Systems.
• Figur 4 zeigt das Fahrwerk aus Figur 3, wobei die Schlitten von einer Verschubfläche der Verschubplatten auf eine Transportfläche des Bergewagens verschoben wurden.

Advantageous configurations of the system according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

• figure 1 shows a landing gear of an aircraft, with an axle of the landing gear being raised with an axle lifting device of a system according to the invention.
• figure 2 shows the undercarriage figure 1 , With the axle lifting device, two carriages and two displacement plates of the system according to the invention.
• figure 3 shows the running gear recorded on the two carriages each mounted on a displacement plate with a recovery vehicle of the system according to the invention.
• figure 4 shows the undercarriage figure 3 , The carriages being shifted from a shifting surface of the shifting plates to a transport surface of the recovery vehicle.

figure 1 shows an axle lifting device 1 of a system according to the invention for recovering an aircraft, with a landing gear 3 of an aircraft raised by means of the axle lifting device 1 on an axle 2 . The system according to the invention comprises, in addition to the at least one in figure 1 Axle lifting device 1 shown at least one in Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown recovery vehicle 4, at least one in figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 illustrated displacement plate 5 and at least one carriage 6, which is also figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 is shown. the inside figure 3 The recovery vehicle 4 shown has a transport area 7 for receiving the landing gear 3 of the aircraft. As in figure 1 shown, the axle lifting device 1 has at least one raisable and lowerable bearing element 8 for receiving at least one axle 2 of the chassis 3 in a height-adjustable manner. According to the figure 1 illustrated preferred embodiment of the bearing element 8, the bearing element 8 comprises two support chains 9. According to an alternative embodiment, the bearing element may comprise 8 bearing belts. As a result, the load of the axle is absorbed on the largest possible contact surface, which reduces the risk of damaging the axle. According to the preferred embodiment, the axle lifting device 1 also includes an actuator which is connected to the bearing element 8 and is not shown in the figures and which is designed to raise and lower the bearing element 8 . The actuator is preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Other actuator types are generally known to those skilled in the art. This achieves the advantage that tried and tested components that are easily scalable for the required load range of the system and are widely available on the market can be used for the system according to the invention. Alternatively, the bearing element 8 can be raised and lowered by means of a mechanical height adjustment mechanism.

figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 show two displacement plates 5 and two carriages 6 of an embodiment variant of the system according to the invention, the displacement plates 5 being arranged at a distance from one another. According to an alternative embodiment of the system according to the invention, the two displacement plates 5 are connected to one another. The system generally comprises at least one displacement plate 5 and at least one carriage 6. If two wheels 10 arranged opposite one another on the axis 2 are damaged on at least one axis 2 of the landing gear 3 of the aircraft, the system in figure 2 respectively figure 3 shown configuration with two displacement plates 5 and two carriages 6 are used. The distance between the shifting plates 5 essentially corresponds to a distance between two wheels 10 on an axis 2 of the chassis 3. The shifting plate 5 has a shifting surface 11, with the carriages 6 in the in figure 2 and figure 3 state of the system shown on the displacement surfaces 11 of the displacement plates 5 are arranged. How out Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, in the operating position of the system, the displacement surface 11 is arranged essentially in one plane with and adjacent to the transport surface 7 of the recovery vehicle 4 . This achieves the advantage that a seamless transition between the displacement surface 11 and the transport surface 7 is guaranteed. During operation, the axle 2 of the chassis 3 on which one or two damaged wheels 10 are located is raised by the axle lifting device 1 . The displacement plate 5 or the two displacement plates 5 are then positioned under the damaged wheels 10 of the chassis 3 . The carriage or carriages 6 is or are then positioned on the respective displacement surfaces 11 . The bearing element 8 of the axle lifting device 1 is then lowered, as a result of which the damaged wheel or wheels 10 are lowered onto the carriage or carriages 6 . The carriage or carriages 6 are designed to accommodate at least one wheel 10 or wheels 10 arranged on the axle 2 accommodated by the bearing element 8 of the axle lifting device 1 . The carriage(s) 6 can be displaced from the displacement surface 11 of the displacement plate 5 onto the transport surface 7 of the recovery vehicle 4, as shown in FIG Figure 3 and Figure 4 is evident. As a result, the chassis 3 with the damaged wheels 10 is shifted to the recovery vehicle 4, which, as in Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, for example, is provided with rollers or wheels 12, which allow the damaged aircraft to be transported away. These are preferably designed to be rotatable and fixable by 360 degrees. According to a preferred embodiment variant of the recovery vehicle, the recovery vehicle has a leveling device, not shown in the figures, the leveling device being connected to the transport surface 7 and raising or lowering the transport surface as required. As a result, the level of the transport surface is adapted to the level of the displacement surface 11 . The leveling device preferably comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder, the level of the transport surface 7 being variable by the leveling device, for example by essentially 160 mm.

in the in figure 2 and figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment variants of the system according to the invention, three wheels 10 arranged on three different axles 2 of the chassis 3 are accommodated by a carriage 6 . In particular if the distances between the individual axles 2 of the chassis 3 are larger, it is necessary to provide a jack stand, not shown in the figures, for accommodating the axle 2 raised first by the axle lifting device 1 in order to accommodate more than one wheel 10 per carriage 6 . The axle 2 raised by the axle lifting device 1 is temporarily stored on the jack stand. Another axle 2 is then raised by means of the axle lifting device 1 . Then one or two displacement plates 5 are arranged with the associated carriage 6 under the damaged wheels 10 of the chassis 3. The axle 2 last lifted by axle lifting device 1 is then lifted lowered, and the damaged wheels 10 arranged thereon are placed on one or two carriages 6. The axle 2 placed on the jack stand is then lifted by the axle lifting device 1 from the jack stand, the jack stand is removed and the damaged wheels 10 arranged thereon are also placed on one or the two carriages 6 . In the case of chassis 3 with three or more axles 2 with damaged wheels 10, the system according to the invention can also include several jack stands. This achieves the advantage that even aircraft with landing gears 3 which have wheels 10 damaged on different axles 2 can be salvaged using the system according to the invention. According to an alternative embodiment variant, the system according to the invention comprises two or more axle lifting devices 1. This achieves the advantage that several axles 2 of the chassis 3 can be raised at the same time.

As in figure 3 shown, the system in the preferred embodiment has one or more locking devices, not shown in the figures, for locking the displacement plate 5 on the recovery vehicle 4 in the operating position. The locking device is in accordance with in figure 3 illustrated embodiment of the system according to the invention as connected to the displacement plate 5 and the recovery vehicle 4 cable. Alternative forms of locking devices that can be used on the system according to the invention are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, screw connections, hydraulic systems, or alternative coupling devices. The locking device provides the advantage that the displacement plate 5 remains securely connected to the recovery vehicle 4 when the carriage 6 is displaced from the displacement surface 11 to the transport surface 7 of the recovery vehicle 4 .

The system according to the invention preferably comprises a displacement device which is connected to the carriage 6 and is not shown in the figures. The shifting device shifts the carriage 6 from the shifting surface 11 to the transport surface 7. The shifting device can be, for example, a cable pull connected to the carriage 6, or it can comprise one or more cables or chains, which are connected to the carriage 6 and are manipulated by means of a towing vehicle .

According to the preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the carriage 6 slides from the displacement surface 11 onto the transport surface 7. For this purpose, the displacement surface 11 and the transport surface 7 are preferably provided with a lubricant, which reduces the friction between the carriage 6 and the displacement surface 11 and the transport surface 7 be reduced. According to alternative embodiments of the system according to the invention 11 rollers, rotatable balls or similar means are provided either on the carriage 6 or the transport surface 7 and the displacement surface to reduce the friction between the To reduce slide 6 and the displacement surface 11 or the transport surface 7 when moving the slide 6 from the displacement surface 11 to the transport surface 7 .

According to the preferred embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises a holding device that can be fastened to the carriage 6 for fixing the wheel 10 on the carriage 6, which is not shown in the figures. The holding device preferably comprises at least one wheel chock. The wheel chock can also be additionally secured on the carriage 6 by means of a plug or screw connection. This achieves the advantage that the chassis 3 on the carriage 6 is secured against slipping when the carriage 6 is displaced.

The method according to the invention for recovering an aircraft with the system according to the invention comprises, as a first step, raising at least one axle 2 of the landing gear 3 of the aircraft with the axle lifting device 1. The displacement plate 5 is then placed under at least one wheel 10 arranged on the at least one raised axle 2 positioned. The carriage 6 is subsequently arranged on the displacement surface 11 of the displacement plate 5 . The raised axle 2 of the chassis 3 is then lowered with the axle lifting device 1 and the at least one wheel 10 is placed on the carriage 6 . After the at least one wheel 10 has been placed on the carriage 6, the carriage 6 is shifted from the shifting surface 11 to the transport surface 7 of the recovery vehicle 4, which is possible without any problems since the shifting surface 11 forms a plane with the transport surface 7 on which the Slide 6 is moved.

If more than one wheel 10 of the running gear 3 is damaged on different axles 2, the axle 2 raised by the axle lifting device 1 is placed on the jack stand after the first step. Another axle 2 of the landing gear 3 of the aircraft, on which a wheel 10 is damaged, is then raised using the axle lifting device 1 . After the displacement plate 5 and the carriage 6 have been positioned under the damaged wheels 10 , the other axle 2 is first lowered with the axle lifting device 1 and at least one wheel 10 arranged on this axle 2 is placed on the carriage 6 . The axle 2 placed on the jack stand is then lifted with the axle lifting device 1. The jack stand is then removed, the axle 2 is lowered and at least one wheel 10 arranged on this axle 2 is placed on the carriage 6 . Subsequently, the carriage 6 is in turn shifted from the displacement surface 11 to the transport surface 7 of the recovery vehicle 4 .

Claims (19)

1. A system for recovering an aircraft using at least one recovering dolley (4), which has a transport platform (7) for accommodating a landing gear (3) of the aircraft,
   characterized in that the system comprises at least one axle lifting device (1), at least one shifting plate (5) and at least one carriage (6), wherein the axle lifting device (1) has at least one bearing element (8) that may be lifted and lowered for the accommodation adjustable in height of at least one axle (2) of the landing gear (3) and wherein the shifting plate (5) has a shifting platform (11) arranged in the operational position essentially on the same level with and adjacent to the transport platform (7) of the recovering dolly (4), wherein the carriage (6) is configured to accommodate at least one wheel (10) arranged at an axle (2) accommodated by the bearing element (8) of the axle lifting device (1) and may be shifted from the shifting platform (11) of the shifting plate (5) onto the transport platform (7) of the recovering dolly (4).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system comprises at least one support frame for accommodating the axle (2) of the landing gear (3).
3. A system according to any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the system has a locking device for locking the shifting plate (5) to the recovery dolly (4) in the operational position.
4. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking device comprises a pulley connected to the shifting plate (5) and the recovery dolly (4).
5. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the system comprises a shifting device connected to the carriage (6), wherein the shifting device is configured to shift the carriage (6) from the shifting platform (11) onto the transport platform (7).
6. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that the shifting device comprises a rope connected to the carriage (6).
7. A system according to claim 5, characterized in that the shifting device comprises a pulley connected to the carriage (6).
8. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carriage (6) is configured to slide from the shifting platform (11) onto the transport platform (7).
9. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carriage (6) has rollers for shifting the carriage (6) from the shifting platform (11) onto the transport platform (7).
10. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the system comprises two axle lifting devices (1).
11. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the system comprises at least one holding device attachable to the carriage (6) for fixing the wheel (10) at the carriage (6).
12. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that the holding device comprises at least one wheel chock.
13. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the bearing element (8) comprises two supporting chains (9).
14. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the axle lifting device (1) comprises at least one actor connected to the bearing element (8), which is configured to lift and lower the bearing element (8).
15. A system according to claim 14, characterized in that the actor is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
16. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the system comprises two shifting plates (5) and two carriages (6), wherein the shifting plates (5) are arranged spaced apart from one another.
17. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the recovery dolley (4) has a levelling device connected to the transport platform (7) for lifting and lowering the transport platform (7).
18. A method for recovering an aircraft using a system according to any of the claims 1 to 17, comprising the following steps of:

    a) lifting at least one axle (2) of a landing gear (3) of an aircraft using an axle lifting device (1),

    b) positioning the shifting plate (5) underneath at least one wheel (10) arranged at the at least one lifted axle (2);

    c) positioning the carriage (6) on the shifting platform (11) of the shifting plate (5),

    d) lowering the lifted axle (2) of the landing gear (3) and resting the at least one wheel (10) on the carriage (6) using the axle lifting device (1);

    e) shifting the carriage (6) from the shifting platform (11) onto the transport platform (7) of the recovery dolly (4).
19. A method for recovering an aircraft according to claim 18, comprising the following steps of:

    f) following step a) and before step b):
    resting the lifted axle (2) of the landing gear (3) on the support frame and lifting a further axle (2) of the landing gear (3) of the aircraft using the axle lifting device (1);

    g) following step c) and before step d):

    lowering the further axle (2) and resting at least one wheel (10) arranged at the further axle on the carriage (6) and

    lifting the axle (2) rested on the support frame using the axle lifting device (1).

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